Notes: Icarus is the world's 6th tallest tree, the 4th tallest tree in Redwood National Park, and the 2nd tallest tree in Helios Grove. Naturalists Chris K. Atkins and Michael W. Taylor named the tree after Icarus, son of Daedalus, from Greek Mythology because it has a dead, sun-bleached top. As Taylor put it, "Icarus flew too close to The Sun and got burned." Elam Creek is also known as Dry Heaves Creek.

The film In Search of the Tallest: A Redwoods Adventure includes a segment about Icarus.

Icarus and Daedalus are just one tree apart.

Drive: Icarus is 255 mi (410 km) north of San Francisco near the community of Orick.

From U.S. Highway 101 just north of Orick, turn onto Bald Hills Road and drive 0.3 mi (0.5 km) to the Redwood Creek Trail sign. Turn right at the sign and drive 0.5 mi (0.8 km) to the Redwood Creek trailhead parking lot.

Hike: GPS-assisted navigation is recommended for this hike. At the southern end of the parking lot, cross the bridge at the trailhead and hike south 1.7 mi (2.7 km) on Redwood Creek Trail to the creek crossing. Cross the seasonal footbridge, if available, return to the trail on the western creek bank, and hike south another 1.0 mi (1.6 km) on Redwood Creek Trail, past McArthur Creek, to the junction with Elam Camp Trail, near 41.26398 -124.02606, just before the lower Elam Creek bridge (turn around if you reach this bridge). Turn right/west at the trail junction and hike west 0.1 mi (0.2 km) on Elam Camp Trail, past Elam Camp and stable, to the junction with Elam Creek Loop Trail (also known as Overnight Loop Trail). Veer left at the trail junction and hike west 0.2 mi (0.3 km) on Elam Creek Loop Trail to the upper Elam Creek bridge and your first view of Daedalus and Icarus. Hike east 150 ft (46 m) past the bridge to the trail exit point, near 41.26170 -124.03076, just before a small gully (turn around if you reach this gully). Exit the trail here and hike west/uphill on an old logging road to the road exit point, near 41.26114 -124.03161, where the road veers left/south away from Elam Creek. Leave the road here and, using a GPS device, hike northwest 70 ft (21 m) off-trail to Icarus. After visting Icarus, hike northeast 25 ft (8 m) off-trail to Daedalus or hike southwest 0.1 mi (0.2 km) off-trail to Helios.

Creek Warning: Icarus is not accessible via Redwood Creek Trail when Redwood Creek has high water levels and the seasonal footbridge is not installed. It is best to visit Icarus from July through October when Redwood Creek is low enough to wade across. To visit Icarus whenever Redwood Creek is impassable, use the 3.1 mi (5.0 km) longer alternate route via Orick Horse Trail.

View Icarus Tree location in Google Maps

Panorama: Click panorama to take a virtual tour of Icarus Tree

Photos: Pictures of Icarus Tree taken from different sides